Giving Tuesday 2023

As we approach our 225th Anniversary in 2024, we have been thinking back to our earliest days. Did the men (and yes, it was all men) ever think that the organization they founded would still be active 225 years later? Their initial idea of protecting their fellow citizens from "quackery and pretenders to the medical arts" has abided over the centuries.

MedChi, and the Center for a Healthy Maryland (the foundation of MedChi) are busier and more active than we have even been. Our programs and services affect both physicians and the citizens of Maryland and preserve our history for generations to come.

On Giving Tuesday, you can choose to support any of the Center's programs:

The History of Maryland Medicine Committee has been busy adding exhibits to the Museum. We received a donation of 300+ books from the collections of Upton Scott, our first president, John Archer who received the first medical degree in America, and Past President, Sir William Osler, MD. We are making a series of videos and planning several events in preparation for our 225th Anniversary in 2024. Click here to donate.

The Maryland Physician Health Program assists physicians in a confidential, private setting to address issues that may potentially impact their ability to practice medicine, is meeting with client- physicians. MPHP has hosted a series of Zoom lectures in conjunction with their 45th Anniversary on the topic of physicians’ physical and mental health. The Dan H. McDougal, MD Fund provides grants-in-aid to physicians who are unable to afford the costs associated with rehabilitation and treatment services. Click here to donate.

Over the past year, the Domestic Violence Program conducted trainings and technical assistance to health care professional participants, began providing Continuing Education Units and teaching physicians to recognize intimate partner violence. Click here to donate.

Your support of the Center for a Healthy Maryland, and our programs, will help us continue with the work that our staff is carrying out on a daily basis. It will also help us to pursue the new opportunities and projects which benefit our members.

A copy of the current financial statement for the Center for a Healthy Maryland is available by writing to the Center at 1211 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, or by calling 410-539-0872. Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Maryland Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, or by calling 410-974-5534.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 Happiest Thanksgiving From Every One of Us at MedChi...

Past & Present! 

Happy Anniversary, Marcia!

It was on this day in 1896 that Marcia Crocker Noyes began a career at the Medical & Chirurgical Faculty of the State of Maryland which would span the next 50 years, ending with her death just a few days after her anniversary.   

Dr. William Osler recruited Marcia from her position at the Pratt Library on the advice of his friend, Bernard Steiner, who was head of the Pratt. 

Just two short weeks later, her entire life had changed. She went from living with her sister and working at the Pratt to living alone at the Faculty's offices on Hamilton Terrace (now Eutaw Street) and working for the Faculty.

She found a library collection in complete disarray and began the work of putting it in order, getting rid of books which were in bad condition and outdated. 

Marcia was just 27 years old when she started at the Faculty, and while she had library skills, she didn't know about medicine. But she worked hard to make friends with the physicians, and with Dr. Osler's support of her, she succeeded in bringing the physicians to her side. 

She helped found the Medical Library Association, which has named their highest award after her. She went on to travel extensively, visiting other medical societies around the country, and spending time at her camp in the Adirondacks.

Eventually, Marcia was named as the Executive Secretary of the Faculty, surely one of the first women at that time to head a state medical society. 

She held that position until her death on November 24, 1946, just a few days after her 50th Anniversary with the Faculty. Her influence and presence echoes down through the years, and through the hallways.

Say WHAT?

At the House of Delegates Meeting in late October, we took some time to interview a number of our past presidents. We asked them all of the same six question, so we'd have a benchmark from which to work. 

We got about two or more hours of footage, but needed to read through what had been said so we could develop a theme. We ran the audio through a talk-to-text feature and got 72 pages of text!

As I began to edit the document, I noticed some strange phrases kept popping up. All of a sudden, it dawned on me - the talk-to-text app didn't understand what MedChi was or what it meant.

So without further delay, I present to you some of the alternatives to MedChi that I just cut and pasted directly from the document!

Magpie

Mankind

med Kai

that Chi

okay

MED

Mankiw

my case

Medica

Medicare

MetLife

Medco

my guy

Mad cow

the case

Mecca

Mai Tai

Bettye

Medicaid

Med K.

met God

med Guy

McHigh

Meg Chi

that guide

that day

Makai

that time

for Tai

med chis

med case

bedtime

America

my faith

make that

Which is your favorite? Mine is Mad Cow!

Ghost Tours Were a HUGE Success!

MedChi and the Center for a Healthy Maryland hosted the inaugural Ghost Tours on Monday, October 30 and Tuesday, October 31 at MedChi's 1909 Building.

The tour started in our History Hallway with an explanation of who we are and what we do. Then we went up to the Krause Room, which was the old reading room and talked about Marcia and her history before and after she began working at the Faculty.

After that, we headed over to the stacks, which interested everyone. 

Sadly, we didn't see Marcia, but we told the groups plenty of stories about her. Then it was downstairs to the see the newly opened MedChi Museum of Maryland Medical History, and those collections of books. 

Finally, it was on to Osler Hall, where we told stories of Marcia's life at the Faculty, her friendship with Sir William Osler and sightings of Marcia in the Hall.

Since the second night of the Ghost Tours was Halloween, we told people they were welcome to dress up, so some of them did!

I hope you had a Happy Halloween and that it wasn't toooo spooooky!